Under the New Covenant that Jesus put into effect, right standing with God comes as a free gift to everyone who will believe (Rom. 4:3-5, 5:18). Yet the faith to believe is tied to the knowledge we have (2 Pet. 1:3-4). If we think our performance is a qualification for God’s blessing, then we’ll never walk in God’s best—not because we doubt God’s ability but because we are all too aware of our inability. But this is where the good news of the gospel comes in. God doesn’t need our ability, just our positive response to His ability. 

Hebrews 10:1-2 says that because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we should have no more consciousness of sin. What a statement! God isn’t holding our sins against us. Our slate is clean, but most Christians haven’t realized it. We are still conscious of our sins, but God isn’t. 

Unconditional Covenant of Peace 

There is an amazing scripture in Isaiah 54:9-10. The Holy Spirit was prophesying through the prophet Isaiah about the New Covenant that you and I live in. He compared this New Covenant to the covenant that God made with Noah. He said, “For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.” 

Think about that! God’s covenant with Noah that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood was not dependent upon the inhabitants of the world being worthy of such a favor. If that covenant would have been conditional, then the earth would have been destroyed by floods many times. That was an unconditional promise. Likewise, our New Covenant is not dependent on us meeting any conditions other than faith in Jesus. 

Steadfast Love Beyond Mountains 

The Lord said that in the same way that He made an unconditional promise to Noah, so He has sworn that He would never be angry with us nor rebuke us. Praise the Lord! That’s good news! That’s grace! He goes on to say in Isaiah 54:10 that the mountains and hills will someday be removed, but He will never remove His covenant of peace from us. God’s covenant of peace with us is more steadfast than the mountains and hills. What a covenant! 

Jesus Is the Prince of Peace 

 When Jesus was born, angels proclaimed, 

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

 

Luke 2:14, emphasis added  

There is a common misunderstanding that the peace this is talking about refers to peace between men. That’s not accurate, and the ongoing wars throughout the world and the conflicts people have with each other are obviously still happening in this broken world. 

So, what is this Scripture talking about? This was not speaking of peace and goodwill among men. It was announcing the establishment of peace and goodwill between God and man. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He came to sacrifice Himself and reconcile man with God. That is amazing! 

There is much more to this Gospel of peace than any of us have ever imagined. I have an teaching out on this subject that I know would be a real blessing to you called Lessons From the Christmas Story for Every Season. This teaching has been setting people free everywhere that I have shared it. It will help you understand the grace of God in such a way that you will be able to retain it and apply it in your everyday life.